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Tag: editor experiments

  • I Tried Club Pilates – and It May Have Cured My Pilates Aversion – POPSUGAR Australia

    I Tried Club Pilates – and It May Have Cured My Pilates Aversion – POPSUGAR Australia

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    The first time I tried Pilates in 2021, it was so challenging that I swore I’d never go back. Recently, though, on one of my #HotGirlWalks, I passed by a Club Pilates location, and it looked far more approachable than the previous studio I’d visited, which enticed me into giving it a try.

    Even though I skipped the free 30-minute introductory course Club Pilates offers and dove right into a level-one Reformer Flow class, during the actual session I never felt like I was working too hard; I wasn’t profusely sweating or breathing too heavily. But I certainly felt the burn in the days after.

    Below, find my full (and honest) Club Pilates review.

    Related: How Much is a Club Pilates Class, Exactly?

    What Is Club Pilates?

    Club Pilates is a chain of reformer Pilates-based workout studios with locations across the United States as well as internationally, in places including the Dominican Republic, Germany, and Singapore.) In addition to reformer Pilates workouts, Club Pilates offers classes that utilize TRX, Exo-Chairs, Bosu balls, dumbbells, mats, and rollers.

    The company was founded in San Diego in 2007. The techniques offered by Club Pilates include some updates to the classical Pilates method, namely expanding the equipment participants use during classes. But the company’s core offerings and workout methods are inspired by the philosophy of Joseph Pilates, the founder and namesake of Pilates.

    What Is Club Pilates Like?

    Put simply, Club Pilates is as approachable as a fitness class can get. The location I went to looks like a regular Pilates studio. There are boxes, foam rollers, reformers, rings, weights, and yoga mats. The studio is adorned with mirrors along the walls adjacent to the reformers so that you can see (and correct, when necessary) your form.

    What I loved most about Club Pilates is that the staff is friendly and helpful. My instructor, Megan Wallace, made each of us feel really comfortable on our reformers. She provided clear instructions, gently reminded us to work with our breath, and gave us positive feedback when she heard us doing so. And while this is a small detail, at the end of class Wallace nudged us to spray and wipe down our reformers, and each participant did so happily. To me, this display of hygiene and gym etiquette always bodes well for a class’s cleanliness and overall vibes.

    While Club Pilates doesn’t have Equinox-like facilities, the bathroom is well-stocked with some favorites – including Batiste Dry Shampoo and Dove Spray-On Deodorant. I was meeting up with a friend post-Pilates and needed to freshen up, so I especially appreciated these perks.

    There are also cubbies for your belongings at the North Hollywood location I visited. They were really roomy, fitting my tote, sandals, water bottle, and sunglasses with tons of room to spare. The shelf is rather large, and it seems to have more cubbies than reformers, so finding a cubby (even if you’re running late) shouldn’t be a problem.

    Is Club Pilates a Good Workout?

    Even at level one, I’d say that Club Pilates is a good workout. Throughout the entire Reformer Flow class, I didn’t really sweat. And while I did struggle during several moves, the class as a whole didn’t feel super challenging, so I didn’t think that I actually got a good workout in. But when I woke up the next day, my abs were sore. I couldn’t even giggle without feeling my core hurt a bit. To me, that’s the sign of a solid workout.

    There are four different levels of classes at Club Pilates, starting off super easy at level one. From here, the classes ascend in difficulty by half a point measure at a time, with the highest level of difficulty for a given class being 2.5. Not all classes go this high, though. The Restore class only goes up to 1.5, and certain locations may not offer all difficulty levels. (The NoHo studio’s Reformer Flow class only goes up to level 2, for instance.)

    There are also different types of classes, including Cardio Sculpt (high intensity), Center + Balance, Control, Restore, Suspend (the TRX-based class), F.I.T. (bootcamp style), and teen. If you’re looking for the best or most difficult workout, Wallace recommends the highest level Reformer Flow.

    But another sign that Club Pilates is more concerned with making sure everyone gets the best workout for them, versus just filling classes: to sign up for Reformer Flow 2, participants need instructor approval, Wallace says. “This class is for clients with extensive reformer experience, as it focuses on balance, strength, and advanced Pilates movements using lighter spring tension,” she says. If you don’t have the experience but want to work hard, your instructor can help point you to a more appropriate class to help you build the experience you need. Wallace notes that the first two levels can still give you a good workout, especially if you focus on engaging your core and keeping the right form.

    Regardless of the difficulty level or class that you choose, Club Pilates is a welcoming space where folks don’t judge each other. I felt comfortable taking the modifications Wallace offered and never felt like people were staring at me or thinking that I was unfit. And that’s the kind of energy that’ll keep me coming back to a group workout.

    What’s Worth Noting About Club Pilates

    While I had a great time and will be returning, I’d be remiss not to mention that I felt a little out of place at first. My class was full of white-presenting people, and I was one of two women of color. That said, once the class started, those things didn’t matter – again, a credit to the welcoming ethos of Club Pilates and the warmth of my instructor. We were all there to move our bodies in a judgment-free zone. I got out of my head and just started doing the movements. (Also, of course, the makeup of your class will depend on where your studio is located and even when you go: though my class was mostly white, the intro class at 5 p.m. had only women of color in it, so I could tell it was a welcoming space.)

    Also worth knowing ahead of time: you’ll need grip socks for all classes. You can bring your own, or purchase them at the studio’s store for around $20.

    Who Club Pilates Is Good For

    After attending a Club Pilates class for myself, I highly recommend it to anyone who’s curious about Pilates, including those who are new to the workout modality and especially people who’ve been put off by it before. It’s a great workout, although if you’re looking for something super sweaty or intense, you may want to sample one of the more difficult offerings on the Club Pilates menu. Regardless, the folks at Club Pilates made the class less intimidating and reassured me at every turn, which is exactly what I want to get out of my fitness class.

    Natalie Arroyo Camacho is a San Fernando Valley-based journalist with more than five years of experience in the well-being and lifestyle space. A proud child of immigrants and first-generation Mexican American, Natalie has landed her byline in the Los Angeles Times, GQ, Teen Vogue, Remezcla, PS, and many others.

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  • Can This Facial Replace Fillers? A Beauty Editor Tries it Out – POPSUGAR Australia

    Can This Facial Replace Fillers? A Beauty Editor Tries it Out – POPSUGAR Australia

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    When Facegym launched in 2015, I was one of the first people to try it out and immediately I was obsessed. I have zero interest in a facial that merely cleans my skin and gives me a little tickle, I want someone to get in there and get my face looking and feeling plumped. Although there are a range of facials on the market which use innovative technology to target everything from fine lines and wrinkles to sagging skin, I still love it when a therapist uses their skills and understanding of skin to target exactly what you need in a way a computer or device could never.

    Over the years I have seen FaceGym go from a small chair in the middle of Selfridges to multiple “gyms” around the world and now a large salon space at the back of the beauty hall. FaceGym claims all of its treatments can boost collagen and if you have regular treatments it can replace the need for fillers. I’m always intrigued, and a tad weary, when a facial makes big claims, but when I approached the FaceGym area in the middle of a busy Selfridges and saw every chair filled with clients having their faces pummelled and prodded, I thought there must be something in it.

    Read on to find out why this massage helped relieve all the tension in my jaw and why sometimes you need a little pain for the biggest gain.

    What Is Facegym Workout?

    As I settled down into the chair the therapist asked me what my problem areas were and we discussed my increasingly sagging jawline, lack of cheekbones and puffy eye bags. Not a small task, but she nodded enthusiastically and reassured me she would work on all of the above and I would see results then and there.

    With most machine-based facials you will see an immediate benefit but the majority will be obvious a few weeks later as your skin goes through a skin cycle. One of FaceGym’s USPs is that this will give you instant benefits that will last for a few weeks. The therapist also suggested that if you have regular treatments you will see lasting benefit that will mean you have less need for injectables such as fillers and Botox. As I settled in, I couldn’t wait to get started, but not before a famous Bollywood actress popped her head in to see if my therapist could fit her in.

    I had the Signature Sculpt (£100 or £80 for members), which is a 45 minute treatment which includes a 30 minute hands on workout and 15 mins of electrical muscle stimulation. This is a small device the therapist glides over the skin using microcurrent. This is a little bit of a tingle, but I wouldn’t describe as painful, especially as they slather you in aloe vera gel to protect the skin. If the idea of the device scares you, or you have a pacemaker, then you can have the treatment without as a full hands-on experience.

    The workout starts with a large red ball which is applied to the skin to get the blood pumping, before the lymphatic draining begins. Firstly using massage techniques and then finished with ice cold gua sha tools. I could really notice a difference after this part of the treatment in terms of puffiness under the eyes, which lasted for a good few days afterwards. Once this stage is complete then the micro current device is used. We checked my face after five minutes on one side and you could visibly see the difference. My cheekbones were more snatched and my jawline was lifted.

    Who Would Benefit From a Facegym Workout?

    Anyone would benefit from this facial, although I do think it really gets results once you hit 30 and your collagen starts to slow down. I think this is a really good option for those who do not want to consider injectables and find machines to be daunting. Although Facegym does offer some electrical devices as part of its treatments this is not the same as sitting under a huge laser or LED light.

    What to Consider Before Having a Facegym Workout

    If you like a soothing, aromatherapy style facial keep walking. This is not for you. I repeat this is not for you. I honestly know why they call this a workout. I broke out in a sweat. My therapist found a knot in my jaw, thanks to my incessant teeth grinding and tensing, and she worked her fingers in so deep to get rid of all the tension that it hurt. I was also sore for a good few days afterwards. This is a facial for those who want to see and feel active results. It is not one for a spot of indulgent self-care, unless like me you find lymphatic drainage and a heap load of pain really satisfying.

    My Facegym Results

    Apart from the aching jaw, thanks to the tension released, my face felt lighter and less puffy for a good few days after the treatment. The initial lifting doesn’t last too long, however if I had a big event this would be a great treatment to have the day before or morning of the event as it was really noticeable for hours afterwards. My face felt similar to how your back feels after a good massage, slightly tender but full of elasticity and relaxed. I would highly recommend giving it a go and will be returning for further treatments.

    Where Can You Get a Facegym Workout?

    You can currently get a Facegym workouts in multiple locations throughout London, as well as in Sydney, New York and LA.

    Rating

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  • I Tried the World’s Fastest Lash Lift and These Were the Results – POPSUGAR Australia

    I Tried the World’s Fastest Lash Lift and These Were the Results – POPSUGAR Australia

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    If there’s one beauty treatment I will forever claim as my favourite “high maintenance to be low maintenance” treatment, it would be a lash lift. There is nothing better than getting your natural lashes lifted and tinted to wake up feeling “pretty” without the over-done, or obvious look false lashes can give you. I’m also not great at anything stuck on, whether they’re nails or strip lashes, as I tend to get irritated after a few weeks and pick them away. There is one drawback however, and that’s how long it takes for each lash to be lifted. I am not a massive fan of laying down for over an hour with my eyes forced shut. Not only do I find it quite irritating to my sensitive eyes, I get bored and can often spend much of the treatment thinking about whether or not I should be opening my eyes. So when I was invited to try a lash lift dubbed “The World’s Fastest”, obviously I jumped at the chance.

    Born in Australia, the innovative Elleebana Lash Lift is a two-step process that only takes between 20-30 minutes to give the appearance of longer, thicker and darker lashes that lasts up to eight weeks. Celebrity fans including Made in Chelsea stars Sophie Habboo, Melissa Tattam and Ruby Adler, who are all known to love this particular lash lift thanks to its speed and efficiency. Lash and brow artist, Emmy Creates, who counts the above as clients, says: “When having beauty treatments celebrity clients need something that is low maintenance, impactful which keeps the integrity or health of the hair. Elleebana has always been ahead of the game, lashes come out perfect with the most beautiful C curl and have a flawless regrowth that celebrity clients are after.”

    But, could it have the same effect as a traditional lash lift in half the time? Would the product be stronger and therefore more irritating? Would I be able to sit for the entire treatment without the urge to open my eyes? Read on to find out.

    What Is the Elleebana Lash Lift?

    A lash lift is when your eyelashes are curled from root to tip to form a curl. This is a cosmetic procedure that needs to be applied by a professional in a salon, where a formula is applied to each individual lash, that sets the hair. This is similar to how hair is curled in a perm. As part of the treatment the lashes are curled upwards and held in place with a specially made shield. It is usually finished with a tint to really enhance the lashes. I find that although it is not painful, it can be a bit uncomfortable to sit with your eyes closed and my eyes tend to get slightly irritated by the chemicals for about 15 mins after the treatment. It is so important to always patch test first for this reason, as minimal irritation is normal but any more should be considered as a red flag.

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    In terms of whether the Elleebana lash lift is the world’s fastest, I can’t confirm this to be correct. It still took around 40 minutes for my lashes to be lifted, however this is a lot quicker than the majority of treatments I have had before. It is also worth noting that this particular formula can be used to laminate eyebrows too, as it’s sensitive enough to touch the skin, unlike other lash lift solutions. I would still say there were points when I really wanted to open my eyes, as for some reason being forced to close my eyes for so long can make me feel a bit claustrophobic, but it wouldn’t put me off having it again. I liked how this felt like there was hardly any waiting around. It was the process that took the time rather than waiting for it to take. This made the time feel faster than having to sit there waiting. In the past I have had many lash lift treatments which have included a pedicure or facial whilst the formula takes, which in practice may sound good, but I have never found them relaxing or appealing due to having my eyes closed and the strong smell and feeling of the chemicals. Overall I found the Elleebana lash lift a much better experience.

    What Are the Benefits of the Elleebana Lash Lift?

    Ah, let me count the ways I love a lash lift. No honestly, the benefits are endless. Once you’ve had the treatment there is very little aftercare apart from avoiding heat and steam for 24 hours and using a spooly to brush the lashes if you see them getting clumped together. I would personally recommend investing in a lash conditioner if you are planning to have this regularly, as it can make the lashes drier than usual. Although this won’t cause damage as such, it is no different to adding colour or treatments to your hair and needing a conditioner when you wash it. This will help the texture stay smooth and conditioned.

    I especially love the benefits of a lash lift in the summer months when your eyes can get irritated and watery due to irritations or allergies, as it means you can leave the mascara at home. Which is why it’s also one of my go-to pre-holiday treatments as it means no panda eyes in a swimming pool. If you’ve got a summer of weddings and special occasions it’s also a great alternative to false lashes and mascara, especially if you’re the type to shed a few tears. What can I say? I’m a crier.

    The Results of the Elleebana Lash Lift

    As you can see from the photos, my lashes look completely different. Lifted, curled and wide open, this is the ultimate no-makeup makeup treatment that will forever be my favourite. My eyes look wider and more open, it makes me look younger as my lashes appear fuller – think young child with incredible natural lashes – and I can’t wait to get up tomorrow and leave the mascara at the back of the draw. I love that I look “done” without the need for any makeup and it will stop anyone asking me why I am so tired on the school run for at least a few weeks. In terms of irritation, my eyes settled very quickly after the solution was wiped away and there was no soreness or redness after 15 minutes or so.

    Where Can You Get the Elleebana Lash Lift in the UK?

    The Elleebana Lash Lift treatment starts from £45.00 and is available at salons nationwide.

    Rating:

    I went to Everlasting Salon in NW1, London for a PR treatment with Lash Technician Kelly

    Lauren Ezekiel is an associate editor at PS UK, where she writes about all things beauty and wellness. With a degree in journalism and 12 years’ experience as a beauty editor at a leading Sunday supplement, she is obsessed with skincare, hair and makeup, and is often found offering advice to innocent bystanders. Her work has been published in Grazia, OK, Health and Beauty, The Sun, ASDA, Dare and Metro.

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  • Can a Facial Improve Your Mental Wellbeing? – POPSUGAR Australia

    Can a Facial Improve Your Mental Wellbeing? – POPSUGAR Australia

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    I’m often asked which facials I recommend and I always say the same thing, “Do you want to relax or do you want to improve your skin?” You would think this wouldn’t make a difference but, then I bet you’ve never had a chemical peel … Don’t get me wrong there is a place for a lovely cleanse, exfoliate, and massage-style facial, something you would get at a day spa. But if you want results you need heavy machinery, quite literally. I’m talking LED lights, laser, microdermabrasion, professional grade acid peels. These types of facials won’t send you to sleep (although I find LED lights weirdly soothing) but I assure you your skin will come out looking polished and gleaming like a pair of new patent shoes. That’s why I was intrigued to try Remedi Clinic Neuro Glow Facial. A treatment which the clinic suggests will not only leave you with glass skin, thanks in part a fractional laser device, but will also lower your cortisol levels to make you feel and look relaxed. The treatment also includes a touch of sound therapy, a guided meditation and three minutes in a cryotherapy chamber. Yep, when it comes to a hardworking, multi-purpose facial treatments this Neuro Glow facial is about as extreme as you will get.

    But can a facial actually have a beneficial impact on your mental wellbeing? Even though I have always maintained you can use beauty as a self-care tool, I can’t say I was convinced. However, I was wrong. Read on to find out why.

    What is a Neuro Glow Facial?

    Coined as an emerging trend for 2024, the ‘Neuro Glow’ looks at the mind-skin connection, termed ’emotional beauty’. This holistic approach focuses on solutions to de-stress the skin by looking at the internal, as well as the external. This trend for facials that treat your mind as well as your skin is definitely something we are seeing more and more in the beauty space and I have always had a special interest in this type of connection as I truly believe how we look, depends on how we feel too. We carry stress throughout our bodies and often during hard times we carry that emotion on our face. Hence why people will often ask, “Are you ok?” when something is going on with us, without us saying a word.

    “Aesthetics should not be about ‘fixing’ or masking one’s external features; we need to address the root cause of the ageing process,” says Dr Nima Mahmoodi, who created the Neuro Glow Facial after seeing a widespread acknowledgement of anxiety, depression, and other mental health concerns and how they affect the way we look. “There has been an understanding that our inner feelings have a direct impact on how we feel and ‘radiate’ our ‘radiance’, which occurs from within, as stress is known to age and compromise health to increase the ageing process. Stress and other negative influences can trigger or increase levels of cortisol and long-term chronic levels of cortisol, which have a negative effect on our cells/inflammation,” he tells POPSUGAR UK.

    What Happened When I Got a Neuro Glow Facial

    The Neuro Glow facial starts with a short cryotherapy session. During this session you strip down into a vest and shorts, before being sent into a chamber where freezing cold air is blown at you for three minutes whilst you listen to your favourite song. It was the first time I’ve tried an ice chamber and I was quite prepared to hate it, however I found it really exhilarating and found myself really boosted from completing the full three minutes. I came out feeling slightly light-headed with a flushed face and ready for a lie down.

    Which was lucky as the next part was the medi-facial. After a short skin consultation it was decided that I would have an express hydra-facial, where my skin was given a deep cleanse and exfoliating acid peel, before an intense laser was applied to give it a glass-like finish. To end the skin section of the facial and to calm any redness I was then placed under a Dermalux Triwave MD LED light for 10 minutes. During this session specific sound therapy audio was played to help me relax and lower my cortisol levels. I have always found sound therapy fascinating and tend to walk away from a session feeling lighter and more content, without really understanding why.

    To finish the treatment I was sent to the clinic’s neuro-feedback device, the Rebalance Impulse. This is meant to help balance your nervous system, and is said to reduce stress by up to 60 percent per session. The large sloped bed contains a built in sound system where you can pick from one of the following programmes available: neuro-relaxation, sleep, emotional balance, slimming, addictions and pain management. I chose emotional balance, before laying back with the headphones and watching the soothing lights do their thing.

    The Benefits of a Neuro Glow Facial

    The mix of different style treatments means this is anything but a boring standard facial treatment. I don’t think I would have tried cryotherapy on its own, however packaged up with something that would benefit my skin I was more inclined to go for it. I definitely felt boosted by the session and would now love to have some more, as I felt it set me up for the rest of the day, feeling like I could achieve anything. The medi-facial is exactly how I like my facial treatments to be, short, sharp and effective. My skin glowed afterwards, someone even commented that I look like I had been polished, which is the ultimate feedback for any treatment in my opinion.

    As for the rebalance impulse, I think this is great for people that really want to rest and get the full spa experience when they have a facial treatment as it makes you embrace your relaxed state and allows you to really indulge in the treatment. I found I spent the rest of the day in a bubble of positivity and even when my tube home was delayed and I nearly missed my children’s pick-up I didn’t feel myself getting anxious. I felt like I had spent the morning having a deep therapy session where I’d uncovered some deep childhood trauma and a weight had been lifted from my shoulders.

    Related:

    Things to Consider Before a Neuro Glow Facial

    It is expensive. At £350 this is not something you will have on a self-care whim. However, if you’re looking for serious results for your skin and your wellbeing this is a great kickstart for embarking on a serious journey of holistic wellbeing. I didn’t feel like I needed to wear base makeup for a good few days afterwards and definitely noticed my skin felt tighter and more sculpted. I also felt relaxed, and more balanced afterwards. It felt like my skin, body and mind were all thankful for the time I had taken to look after it that week and rewarded me with less brain fog and good quality sleep.

    I wouldn’t recommend it if you’re looking for a deeply relaxing facial or if you find physical touch far more soothing and relaxing.

    Where Can You Get a Neuro Glow Facial?

    This Neuro Glow Facial is available at Remedi Clinic London, the combined price is £350. Prices for a medi-facial start from £250, cryotherapy packages start from £80, and Rebalance Impulse from £50.

    Lauren Ezekiel is an associate editor at POPSUGAR UK, where she writes about all things beauty and wellness. With a degree in journalism and 12 years’ experience as a beauty editor at a leading Sunday supplement, she is obsessed with skincare, hair and makeup, and is often found offering advice to innocent bystanders. Her work has been published in Grazia, OK, Health and Beauty, The Sun, ASDA, Dare and Metro.

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  • I Tried “Lip Gloss” Filler For a Subtle, Hydrated Look – POPSUGAR Australia

    I Tried “Lip Gloss” Filler For a Subtle, Hydrated Look – POPSUGAR Australia

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    Ever since I moved to Los Angeles a year ago, I’ve become more fixated on my physical features than ever before. It sounds shallow, and I’m a little ashamed to even admit it, but it’s true. After getting out of a long-term – like, eight-year – relationship, I’ve been back in the dating game, simultaneously comparing myself to all of the younger, prettier single girls out there. Plus, I’ve learned that in Los Angeles, people are way more vocal when it comes to work they’ve had done. Injectables, lasers, plastic surgery – it’s all openly talked about. On any given day, it’s not uncommon for me to see someone who is obviously recovering from a nose job at the grocery store or witness someone who looks like they had the first layer of their skin lasered off casually out at a restaurant.

    When it came to “tweakments” I was considering, I had been thinking about getting lip filler for a while but was on the fence because I already have naturally full lips. Half of my friends told me I should try it, and the other half warned me that I would probably hate it. When I heard about “lip gloss” filler from one of my coworkers, I realized it was the perfect way in for me. “Lip-gloss filler is a technique in which hyaluronic-acid filler is injected to provide hydration and reduce the fine lines and wrinkles that we often associate with [less elastic], more mature skin,” board-certified dermatologist Michelle Henry, MD, previously told POPSUGAR. The method isn’t meant for adding volume (which I already had), just hydration (which I sorely needed).

    To try it out for myself, I visited Nancy Samolitis, MD, board-certified dermatologist and cofounder of Facile Skin. At my first visit, I was nervous as hell. I had heard from all of my friends that lip injections hurt like a bitch, and I didn’t want my lips to look bad. Fortunately, a few of my friends had visited Dr. Samolitis in the past, so I knew I was in good hands.

    When I got to my appointment, we started off by numbing my lips. I couldn’t shut up about how nervous I was, so they put a lot of the cream all over my mouth. When Dr. Samolitis walked in, the first thing she said to me was, “That’s a lot of numbing cream.”

    My Results With “Lip Gloss” Filler

    Before we started, I had a lot of questions about what product we were using and how it was going to help me achieve the look I wanted. “We’re using Restalyne Refyne,” Dr. Samolitis told me. “It’s a hyaluronic-acid filler, and while a lot of the fillers we use are made of hyaluronic acid, the way the molecules are linked together makes them a little bit different. We don’t want it to create stiffness or bone-like structure, we want it to be soft and flexible. The flexibility of Refyne is one of the things that makes it one of my favorites for lips.” She continued to explain how some of the older fillers didn’t have the same flexibility, which is what could lead to the lip looking stiff, firm, and unnatural. She said that since I already had fuller lips, we’d be using a small amount to add hydration without volume.

    After answering my millions of questions, it was time to get to it. The process actually didn’t hurt nearly as much as I thought it would – there was a slight pinch every time the needle went into my skin, but the numbing cream and an ice pack helped significantly. I didn’t bruise at all and only had a tiny bit of swelling. I left the office with my lips, just better. They weren’t any bigger, but my fine lines were less noticeable, and in the days to follow, my lips felt more moisturized.

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  • 10 Editor-Approved Beauty Experiments to Try in the New Year – POPSUGAR Australia

    10 Editor-Approved Beauty Experiments to Try in the New Year – POPSUGAR Australia

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    Resetting in the new year isn’t just limited to committing to health and wellness goals (though those can be important, too). Take the fresh start as an opportunity to kick-start some new beauty habits you can incorporate into your daily or weekly routines. Whether it’s going a day – or even a week – without makeup, decluttering your beauty cabinet, or experimenting with new products and trends, we’ve got you covered.

    Over the years, the PS Beauty team has tested practically every makeup trend under the sun, whether it’s a seemingly silly technique going viral on TikTok or a celebrity-loved treatment that everyone is curious about. While some were sufficient as one-time experiments, others quickly became signature staples in our editors’ beauty regimens. Buzzy TikTok trends like the no-powder concealer hack or the upside-down hair-washing trick may have sounded gimmicky at first, but they turned out to be game changers for editors.

    Of the many tips and tricks tested by PS Beauty staffers and contributors, we’ve gathered 10 experiments in particular that are worth your time, especially as you think about changing up your makeup, hair, skin care, and nails in 2024. From simple makeup hacks that can create a “false-lash effect” or the illusion of fuller lips to a chic manicure and a “no-filler” filler, this list is editor-approved. Give your beauty routine a much-needed revamp and try the below trends out for yourself.

    Related: A Celebrity Aesthetician Shares the Best Skin-Care Routine For Your Skin Type

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  • I Tried the Viral Crocs Cowboy Boots — and They’re Actually Kind of Chic

    I Tried the Viral Crocs Cowboy Boots — and They’re Actually Kind of Chic

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    As POPSUGAR editors, we independently select and write about stuff we love and think you’ll like too. If you buy a product we have recommended, we may receive affiliate commission, which in turn supports our work.

    Go big or go home, right?

    It’s not wrong. When our team first caught wind of the news — and saw photos — we were certainly taken aback. With metallic embroidery, croc-skin texture, and the brand’s signature vent holes and uniquely shaped footbed, the Crocs are quite the sight. The rubber, mid-calf boots also come with a removable spur on the back strap, as well as gold star and cowboy Jibbitz charms. Though the brand has debuted a plethora of funky styles over the years, like bejeweled platforms, heeled mules, and Shrek-inspired clogs, it never ceases to surprise us.

    Despite some of its bizarre yet buzzy launches, I’ve often heard people rave about how comfortable Crocs are. I’ve also seen fashion girlies style — and look very cute in — these rubbery clogs. Of course, I’ve never owned a pair before, so it just felt right to choose the Classic Cowboy Boot as my first. Go big or go home, right?

    I’ve seen how cool street style stars and celebrities have worn Crocs, but the half-clog, half-cowboy-boot hybrid presented a challenge. Upon unboxing, I was admittedly overwhelmed by the thought of styling these bad boys. But once I threw on some basics and played around with different styling cues, they started growing on me. In fact, I actually found cowboy Crocs to be pretty chic once built into an outfit. That said, I did opt out of adding the Jibbitz charms because they were a little too flashy for my taste, not to mention difficult to attach and remove.

    Needless to say, I kept the styling minimal and true to my personal fashion because I knew the boots would do the talking. You’ll see they took the lead against more casual basics like my everyday straight-leg jeans, effortless Bermuda shorts, and a structured blazer. Ahead, see how I wore the much-talked-about shoe, and snag your own pair before they sell out completely.

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    Yerin Kim

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  • I Tried TikTok’s Gas Station Core Trend and Felt Like Britney Spears in “Crossroads”

    I Tried TikTok’s Gas Station Core Trend and Felt Like Britney Spears in “Crossroads”

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    As POPSUGAR editors, we independently select and write about stuff we love and think you’ll like too. If you buy a product we have recommended, we may receive affiliate commission, which in turn supports our work.

    I think gas stations first became a source of style inspiration for me after watching Lucy Wagner (Britney Spears) sing “Bye, Bye, Bye” in her bucket hat in the back seat of a yellow convertible. The movie was “Crossroads,” released in 2002, and it was full of fashion ingenuity. Wagner later filled up the tank of her Buick in velour pants, a graphic tee, and messy ponytail — and that scene was pictured on the iconic movie poster. It’s an outfit I will always associate with gas-station fashion.

    “You’re probably going to think everything is heinous but it’s a mindset shift…don’t judge a gas station by its cover!”

    So, when WSJ named artist Josie Francis the face of the latest viral TikTok trend, gas station core, I was instantly curious about Spears’s old stomping grounds and their sartorial impact. Is gas station core still the same aesthetic I knew and loved when I was 10?

    Today, gas station core is mostly about sifting through the nearly-empty racks and shelves next to your favorite candy to find hidden “gems”: affordable items you can work into a grungy look. Think oversize tees and outerwear, rugged utility clothes, and outdoorsy accessories. Francis shared an arsenal of tips for achieving peak gas station core, although she did note that you should interpret the “ugly” trend to make it your own. “Think twice about everything, give it a chance,” she told POPSUGAR. “You might see a hat and right away your brain might tell you that it’s ugly as f [DID SHE SAY FUCK?] – and it might be – but don’t walk away yet. Is it actually ugly ugly OR could you make it fun and style it in a way that would make sense? You’re probably going to think everything is heinous but it’s a mindset shift…don’t judge a gas station by its cover!”

    Ahead, discover the ethos of the gas station core TikTok trend, then see how I made it my own with outfits you can shop.

    What is gas station core?

    Gas station core is the latest viral TikTok “ugly” trend that involves collecting affordable, mostly oversize pieces from the convenience shops at gas stations. Wardrobe essentials in a gas station core closet include hunting and fishing gear; big, roomy tees with a wolf print, perhaps; reflective sport sunglasses; slogan baseball caps; and utility vests.

    Francis pointed me to the section of the store with miscellaneous merch and lonely hats, both hidden gems that could have been plucked from a thrift store. She maintains that she’ll never spend more than $35 on any one item, as the whole idea of gas station core is to shop on a budget. Her personal favorite gas stations to shop at are in Wisconsin off of I-94, but I ended up finding great material at my local stops in Jersey City, NJ.

    How to wear the gas station core aesthetic

    While Francis’s look is colorful, quirky, and grungy all at once, I used my gas station finds to pay ode to the ’90s and 2000s. TikTok videos will suggest you wear your items with Daisy Dukes, baggy jeans, and Converse and cargos.

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    Sarah Wasilak

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  • I Attempted to Wear Olivia Rodrigo’s Infamously Tall, 7-Inch Platform Boots

    I Attempted to Wear Olivia Rodrigo’s Infamously Tall, 7-Inch Platform Boots

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    Dua Lipa, Olvia Rodrigo, and Lady Gaga all posed in the Marc Jacobs Kiki platform boots, and upon first glance, my reaction was always the same: I wonder what it’s like to actually walk in those 7-inch heels? Well, reader, I tried the vertiginous heels on myself and at the most non-opportune time, too. I had just completed a 16-mile run before stepping into these monstrous shoes, which might have been foolish, but I had no other choice since I’m in the midst of training for a marathon. Nevertheless, I’m always up for a challenge, and I’d like to think strapping into these puppies with a giant blister on my big toe qualifies as such.

    It is a costume shoe built for a celebrity — one who is spotted by body guards or assistants, and employs a driver to transport them from door to door.

    To be candid, wearing this version of the infamous Kiki, which first debuted on the runway in 2016 and boasts a 4-inch platform (you do the math), is not easy. Though they’re equipped with five buckle straps, the thin strips of leather across the upper and around the ankle are no match for the 5-pound blocks they’re dragging along. The Kiki style is so tall (the tallest in Marc Jacobs platform history), that once you’re standing in them, the inevitable realization hits you: if you were to fall, you’d twist and probably break your ankle. Upon recognizing that fact, I immediately reached for support from the wall beside me — and also the ceiling. Because my tiny attic apartment would have it that, in the Kiki, I was a giant whose head skimmed the roof.

    Ahead, see how I styled this viral, celebrity-favorite shoe, despite my fear of tripping and squashing one of my cats. Then, keep scrolling to shop it for yourself.

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    Sarah Wasilak

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  • I Styled the Iconic Adidas Samba Like Rihanna and Hailey Bieber

    I Styled the Iconic Adidas Samba Like Rihanna and Hailey Bieber

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    My obsession with the Adidas Samba first began in fifth grade. One of my classmates wore the OG classic in black nearly every day, teamed with a pair of Soffe shorts that were rolled precisely three times at the waist. She always beat the boys at soccer during recess. I admired her fashion sense from a young age, and I think that’s because she wore her outfits with confidence and exuded a certain toughness — especially in her Sambas. It’s possible she was even my very first style crush. Today, retro sneakers are having a resurgence, and that certainly doesn’t exclude the iconic Samba, a low-top with three recognizable stripes, the Trefoil-embossed logo at the heel, and a gum rubber outsole. It was, in fact, created as a versatile soccer shoe by the brand in 1950.

    Particularly impressed by the quirkiness of Hadid’s outfit and the bold brilliance of Rihanna’s, I aimed to settle on the answer to an age-old query: how to wear Adidas Sambas.

    The celebrity support of the Samba is at an all-time high, with models, Hollywood A-listers, and Rihanna (she deserves her own category, right?) reinventing the wheel when it comes to outfits with a tomboy twist. While pregnant with her first son, RZA, in April 2022, Rihanna updated her maternity wardrobe with a pair of white Samba shoes that offset a navy-blue Alaïa ribbed set. They were played up by pearls and the accents on her Dior Saddle Bag, and complemented by an LAFD trucker hat. That might have been the street style look to spark the cyclical trend — Bella Hadid wore her Sambas in Paris around the same time, taking a dark-academia approach. And Katie Holmes and Hailey Bieber rocked them with denim this past summer, stepping out in New York and LA, respectively.

    Seeing as school is back in session — and that’s where my love for Sambas began — it felt like the right time to pick up the sneakers (which start at $90), and take them for a spin. Maybe it’s because the shoes represent my early passion for admiring someone else’s style, but I promptly schemed to re-create the celebrity outfits I’d found. Particularly impressed by the quirkiness of Hadid’s outfit and the bold brilliance of Rihanna’s, I aimed to settle on the answer to an age-old query: how to wear Adidas Sambas.

    As it turns out, you don’t have to harbor millions of Instagram followers to wear the shoe in precisely the same way Rihanna, Hadid, Bieber, and Holmes did. All four outfits work for achieving athletic appeal like a fashion girl — it just depends how relaxed, or, conversely, how extra you want to stray. Ahead, I review the original Adidas Samba shoe in the context of each celebrity outfit I tried and ultimately choose a favorite look. Scroll to see — and shop — the pieces cut out for the job.

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    Sarah Wasilak

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  • How My Boyfriend and I Custom-Designed Matching Suits For a Wedding

    How My Boyfriend and I Custom-Designed Matching Suits For a Wedding

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    After waiting out the 3-week production period, we were notified that our suits were ready for pickup, so we headed in for a final fitting to make sure we loved the finished products. My boyfriend’s suit was perfect, but my vest was not quite as snug as I’d hoped for, with room at the shoulders and around the bust. The Indochino team quickly pinned back the extra fabric, and in-house alterations meant that my top would be ready just two days later — right in time for the wedding we were attending together.

    I’ve worn suits before, but never one molded to my every curve, with my measurements taken into consideration. The level of comfort I felt dancing, filling my plate to the brim at cocktail hour, and posing for pictures in the photo booth was honestly astounding. While my boyfriend had previously used Indochino’s made-to-measure service for his brother’s wedding, he was delighted to find how flexible the fabric of his seersucker suit was. And, of course, the personalization details were like our own hidden little secrets that we harbored at the wedding — the first of many places we’ll go in these looks.

    To book a showroom appointment at Indochino, you can find a list of all the stores across North America here. Womenswear is available across all of Indochino’s directly owned showrooms, though it is not currently available at the Nordstrom shops. Each showroom page will clearly state if it is available at the location you are planning to visit.

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    Sarah Wasilak

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